Combination packer, packer setting tool, and bottom shut-off valve



AND BOTTOM SHUT-OFF VALVE Filed NOV. 26, 1934 May 19, 1936. J. c. slNGLEToN coMBNATIC PACKER SETTING TOOL,

N PACKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 le:lanillnvlnilnllllrl May 19g 1936- J. c. SINGLETON I 2,041,439

COMBINATION PACKER, PACKER SETTING TOOL, AND BOTTOM SHUT-OFF VALVE Filed NOV. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fzg. Figli. 1929.3;

o o o o'o J.- C'. S/NG/ ETo/v Patented May 19, 1936 COBIBINAT'ION PACKER, PCKER SETTING TOOL, AND BOTTOM SHUT-@IFF VALVE 1 John Christian Singleton, Winton, La.

Application November 26, Zitti, Serial No. 3541,@64

17 Claims.

My invention comprises a new bottom shuto valve, a well packer, and a packer setting tool rigidly connected to thebottom shutoi valve and a drill stem extending to the top of the well.

The invention has for an object to eliminate the use of extra tools and operations in setting the screen in the Well.

The invention further has for its object' to provide a structure of the character referred to l0 above by the use of which one operation only is required to close the valve, lift the setting tool into operative relation to the packer top sleeve, let down and set the packer and wash the inside of the screen preparatory to the bringing in of the weil.

Further, the invention has for its object to provide a bottom shutoi valve controlled by a rigid threaded connection to the packer setting tool drill stem extending to the top of the well, thus aiordin'g a positive means of dete a. 1.: when the valve is closed when desired.

Further, it is an object to` provide a rigid threaded connection directly from the bottom shutoff valve to the packer setting tool drill stern extending to' the top of the well, thus making a direct connection from the top of the well to the bottom of the screen, strengthening and sup" porting the screen when going into the well and preventing damageto the screen while going into 3@ the well.

Further, itis an object to provide a packer setting tool not threadedly connected to the packer;

one which permits oi spacing the setting tool at Aany place desired between vthe top endof the 35 packer and the bottom of the wellscreen, petting the setting stem to be withdrawn high.

enough up in the well so that after the'packer yhas been set the setting tool may be left sitting on the top sleeve of the packer and there will bey "5@ no loose wash pipe hanging down into the well 'Y screen.

A further object is to provide a packer setting tool which will help to hold the packer, screen,

etc., down in the well should the pressure in the the casing.

Further, it is an object to provide a packer without threaded inside connection for the setting tool, thereby allowing the full thickness oi the pipe to be left and giving ,a better seat for a lead face seal should it become necessary to put one in the well later, also permitting the spacing of the setting tool in the screen as desired. l

Again, it is an object to provide a guide hood 'well tend to shove the packer, screen, etc., up in (Ci. 166mm) for guiding the packer setting tool dogs into the packer and to t down tightly on the top sleeve of the packer, thereby making a tight, leak-proof joint to keep sand. and trash from entering packer, screen, etc., from the top end and holding .the packer, screen, etc., in line; also serving as a guide should the screen have to be withdrawn before setting.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement oi parts, ail of which will be hrst fullydescribed in the following detailed description and then be. particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in weh:-

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the lower end of a well casing with my invention in position, the parts being in the positions they assume before settingthe packing.

Figure 2 is an 'enlarged detail vertical section of al portion of the structure shown in e l with the packer set.

Figure 3 is a detail section of the bowl.

Figure d is a detail section of the slip.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section showing how the dogs are held inlby the guide head sleeve while inserting the packer tool into the de sleeve of the packer.

Figure 6 is an enlargeddetail vertical section of the bottom shuto valve unit with the valve closed. e

Figure 7 is a plan View oi Figure 6. J

Figure e is a detail vertical section or the valve cage and seat member, per se. j

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail vertical section of a slightly modified setting tool bloclrfts 'Figure iii is a cross section on the line {ld-i@ of Figure 9.

Figure ll is a detail vertical section or e, uw; fied structure oi the bottom shuto valve unit.

ln' the drawings in which like nerals and letters or" reference indicate like parte in all the g= hres, i represents the set shoe sleeve and t me. Cates the set shoe guide plug which is threaded into the sleeve as at 3. The sleeve i is threaded at l to receive the lower threaded end of the screen ill, it being understood that the sc il may be oi any approved coruction.

The valve cage base 5 carries the cylindrical body li that provided with the valve seat niember i, against the seat of which the ve ii is the parts shown in adapted to be brought into engagement to close the passage through the valve seat member. The

- latter has openings 9 through which water may be pumped into the plug 2, from whence it escapes through apertures 5U. The valve cage base 5 is internally threaded as at ID.- (All threads in the structure herein described are right hand threads except the threads which connect the lower section of the tubing 'or drill stem 30 with the valve II and those threads I6 are left hand threads, also indicated in the drawings by the letters L. H. T.)

The shutoff valve proper II has a ratchet flange I2 with which a pawl I3, that is pivoted at I4 on the valve cage base 5, is held in constant Y cooperative engagement by a spring I5. The purslip 21 that is held within the slip socket 25 of the bowl 24 which is threaded at 23 to the lower end of the top sleeve 22 of the packer.

In assembling the parts preparatory to putting them into the well, the sleeves I9 and 22 are held in position with relation to each other by temporary pins 26 which are constructed to be sheared oi when the packing is being set. Located between the bowl 24 and the packing 29 is a lead ring 28 forming, in connection with the packing, the well seal.

3I designates the left hand threads on the lower end of the lower section 30 of the drill stem tubing, which end screws into the threads I6 of the valve II.

The setting tool comprises a block consisting of a lower head 32 into the lower threaded end 33 of which the upper threaded end of the lower section 30 of the drill stem tubing fits. The block also includes the .upper head 36 and the connecting coupling pipe 35 threadedly connected with head 32 and which may be integral with the head 36, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or may be a separate part as indicated in Figure 9. When a separate part, the coupling pipe- 35a, is connected with the upper head 36a o the block by a threaded joint 31a. The blocks 32 and 36 each have a set of dog receiving recesses 34 and 38 respectively for the reception of the dogs 4I.

39 designates the tubing or drill stem which extends to the top of the well and which may be made of pipe sections coupled together in the usual way. The lower section of the drill stem 39 is threaded, at 31, intothe upper head 36 oi the setting tool block, as at 31, and at a suitable distance above its lower end it is provided with a collar 40 serving as an upper stop for the guide head collar 44. The dogs 4I are continuously urged outwardly by means of springs 42. In assembling the packer tool with the packer it is of course necessary to hold the dogs 4I contracted and in order to facilitate this and expedite the entry of the dogs into the top sleeve of the packer, and for other purposes hereinbefore indicated and hereinafter again referred to, I provide a guide head having a sleeve 43 secured tothe tubing 39 by a. set screw 45 passing through a collar 44 on the head. 'I'he guide head also includes a ange d6 which is adapted, when the parts are assembled preparatory to inserting them into the well, to rest on and form a cap or closure for the upper end of the top sleeve 22 of the packer (see Figure l).

Instead of constructing the bottom shutoff valve as shown in Figures 1 and 6 to 8 inclusive, its structure may be modiiled as indicated in Figure 11. In this gure those parts of identical structure with those in Figure 6 bear the same reference numeral, while those of corresponding structure, slightly modified, bear the same reference numeral, plus the index letter a, so a repetition of the description of those parts hereis believed to be unnecessary. In the structure of Figure 11 the valve seat member 1a, instead of being integral with the base 5a, is formed on a pillar t1 which is threaded at i8 into the threaded aperture i9 of the set shoe guide plug 2a.

The well casing is indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings by the reference numeral 5I and it may be of the usual and accepted kind.

Operation The set shoe I, 2, and the bottom shutoi valve i-II are made up on the well screen I1. The packer Iii- 29 is made up on the well screen also. The valve setting stem 30 is then tted into the head 32 of the seal setting tool or drill stem 32--38, Iii, 32. The guide hood 43, lli is loosened and run down over the dogs fil. The tool is then run into the packer and screen and additional pipe 39 added until pipe 39 reaches valve I I. The drill stem (pipe 39, etc.) is then turned in a left hand direction to screw pipe 3l into the thread I6 'of the opened valve II, the valve being held against unscrewing by the pawl I3. The assembly is now ready to be run into the wel1.casing 5I. The guide head i-lili-li is made fast by set screw i5 so that the flange 36 rests on and forms a closure for the top sleeve 22 of the packer before the assembly is run into the well casing.

As the assembly is lowered into the Well additional sections are added to the pipe 39 as is customary, and water is pumped down and through the bottom shutoi valve II-'i and plug 2 to wash the well outside. After the set shoe 2 has reached the bottom and the operator has nished washing the outside by pumping water through, the set stem (tubing 39-35-30) is rotated in a right hand direction while the pump is permitted to run at low speed; when the bottom shutoff` valve is fully closed it will momentarily stop the pump and the operator will know thereby that the valve is closed. The stem will continue to-be rotated to the right which will unscrew the pipe 30 from the valve II, whereupon the tool may be raised until the dogs ll are above the upper end of the top sleeve 22 of the packer when the dogs will spring out. The setting lfool will then be let down, until the dogs engage the top sleeve 22, with enough force to shear 015:' the pin 26 and force the seal down and the packing out against the casing 5I and inside sleeve I9 to form a water-tight joint. The well is now ready to be washed on the inside as usual.

From the foregoing it will readily beseen that my invention embodies the following characteristics:

l. There is an improved feature of connecting wash pipe hanging i'rom the packer setting tool to back pressure valve which is of smaller size pipe. My invention uses the'setting tool stem as the wash pipe.

2. There is an improved feature in packer with no threaded connection in the top end of the inside sleeve for the setting tool: thus saving the cost of threading, and leaving more pipe for a lead face seal. The pipe is the same size on the top end, which is an advantage if it ltoe desired to iish it out later with a spear or die 3. The invention permits the use of tubing for the packing setting tool and shutoi! valve stem which will be of the same size pipe from top to bottom oi the well, making it unnecessary to pull out the stem to remove a smaller size wash pipe, as has heretofore been the case with those structures in common use.

4. The bottom shutoff valve is fully open while going into the well, allowing uid to enter as the screen is lowered, saving time for hving to stop and fill up the pipe from the top end. This feature alone will save from two to three hours7 time on the present day type of deep wells, and

, should the well be bridged over it allows full pump pressure for pumping out the bridge.

5. The bottom shutoff valve provides a positive means oflrnowing that the bottom is closed od tight, eliminating a possible leaking back pressure valve. This is invaluable to the well man, especially on deep wells oi high gas pressure. After the well has been 'properly washed on the outside oi the screen, the pump is permitted to run at a low speed while the stem is rotated to the right, when valve is closed it will cause the pump Vto stop, thus signaling the operator that the valve is fully closed. The operatorwill continue to rotate the stem to the right until the left hand thread on the end of the setting stem has unscrewed from the valve and the pump will then begin to run again, at which time the operatory will pull the setting tool up above the top sleeve of the packer and let it down with sumcient force to set the packer as above described.

6. The bottom shutoff valve saves the. time and expense of havingto make an extra trip into the wellrto plug a leaking back pressure valve and reclaim a well, which may cost thousandsoi? dollars. i

7. The bottonej shutoi valve and set shoe are short, allowing the taking in of more oil or water sand in the well, which may repay7 its cost rnany times in each production.

The setting stem is of the same' size pipe connected directly to the set shoe on the lower end oiA the well screen, thus eliminating the threaded connection in the packer, eliminating a smaller size wash pipeeliminaing a wash pipe hanging loose through the settingtool to the bot tom valve, aioiding the saine size hole through the stern from top of the well to the bottom, and

making it unnecessary to withdraw the stem to remove setting tool and wash pipe in order to have the saine size hole or pipe from top to bottom.

Other advantages ci my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art, and rom the tore going description, taken in connection with the yaccompanying drawings, it is thought that the complete construction, operation and advantages of the invention will he apparent.

l desire it to be understood that slight changes in the details oi construction, arrangement and proporticning of parts, etc., may readily1 he made having a without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope o! the appended claims.

What I claim is: l

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end of said screen; a bottom shutoi valve mechanism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage with a valve seat, a valve threaded into the cage with a right hand thread and having-a passage with a left hand thread at the top; a. packer mounted on the upper end of the screen and including an inside sleeve, a packing around the sleeve, a bowl above the packing, a

slip, in the bowl, the slip and the inside sleeve having cooperating bat-wing threads, and a top sleeve secured above the bowl; a well drill stem and a packer setting tool carried by the stem to fit within said inside sleeve and said screen and having a lower pipe section provided with a left hand thread at its end to screw into said valve while the same is open.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end of said screen; a bottom shutoff valve mechanism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage witha valve seatfa valve threaded into the cage with a right hand thread and having a passage with a left hand thread at the top; a

packer mounted on the upper end of the screen and including an inside sleeve, a packing around the sleeve,n a bowl above the packing, a slip in the `howl, the slip and the inside sleeve having cooperating bat-wing threads, and a top sleeve secured above the bowl; a shear pin connectingr said bowl tosaid inside sleeve at a piace where the packing will remain unexpanded; a well drill stem and apacker setting tool carried by the stem to dt within said inside sleeve and said screen and having a lower pipe section provided with a. left hand thread at its end to screw into said valve while the same is open.

3. ln an apparatus oi the character described, a well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end oi said screen; a bottom shutoff valve mechanism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage with a valve seat, a valve threadcd into the cage with a right hand thread and having a' passage with a left hand thread at the top; a

within said inside sleeve and said screen and havla well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end o said screen; a bottom shutoff valve anism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage with a'valve seat, a valve threaded into the cage with a right hand thread and having a passage with a left hand thread at the top; a packer mounted on the upper end o the screen and including an inside sleeve, a packing around the sleeve, a bowl above the packing, a slip in the bowl, the slip and the inside sleeve having coop'- erating bat-wing threads, and a top sleeve secured above the bowl; a well drill stem and a packer setting tool carried by the stem to iit within said inside sleeve and said screen and having a lower pipe section provided with a left hand thread at its end to screw into said valve while the same is open, a guide head with a sleeve slidingly tting into said inside sleeve and having a, flange to seat on the upper end of said top sleeve as a closure therefor, said guide head being slidably mounted on said drill stem to be engaged with said packer setting tool and guided into said inside sleeve.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end of said screen; a bottom shutoi valve mechanism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage with a valve seat, a valve threaded into the cage with a right hand thread and having a passage with a left hand thread at the top; a packer mounted on the upper end of the screen and including an inside sleeve, a packing around the sleeve, a bowl above the packing, a slip in the bowl, the slip and the inside sleeve having cooperating bat-wing threads, and a top sleeve secured above the bowl; a well drill stem and a packer setting tool carried by the' stem to t within said inside sleeve and said screen and having a lower pipe section provided with a left hand thread at its end to screw,A into said valve while the same is open; said packer setting tool comprising a block, radial dogs and pushout springs therefor mounted in said block; a guide head slidably mounted on said drill stem and having a portion to be engaged with said radial dogs to push them in and guide the packer setting tool into said inside sleeve.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end of said screen; a bottom shutoi' valve mechanism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage with a valve seat, a valve threaded into the cage with a right hand thread and having a passage with a left hand thread at the top;v a packer mounted on the upper end of the screen and including an inside sleeve, a packing around the sleeve, a bowl above the packing, a slip in the bowl, the slip and the inside sleeve having cooperating bat-wing threads, and a top sleeve secured above the bowl; a well drill ,stem and a packer setting tool carried by the stem to fit within said inside sleeve and said screen and having a lower pipe section provided with a left hand thread at its end to screw into said valve while the same is open; said stem, said packer setting tool and said lower pipe section having a uniform internal diameter throughout and serving the three-fold function of a water pipe, a valve closing tool and apacker setting tool.

7. In an apparatus oi' the character described, a well screen; a set shoe mounted on the lower end of said screen; a bottom shutoii' valve mechanism mounted in said shoe and including a valve cage with a valve seat, a valve threaded into the cage with a right hand thread and having a passage with a left hand thread at the top; a packer mounted on the upper end of the screen and including an inside sleeve, a packing around the sleeve, a bowl above the packing, a slip in the bowl, the slip and the inside sleeve havingcooperating bat-wing threads, and a. top sleeve seciued above the bowl; a well drill 'stem and a packer setting tool carried by the stem to t within said inside sleeve and said screen and having a lower pipe section provided with a left hand thread at its end to screw into said valve while the same is open; said packer setting tool comprising a lower head, an upper head and a connecting pipe section between said heads, radially disposed dogs and dog thrust out springs carried by said heads, said heads being frustoconical and tapering downwardly and upwardly respectively.

8. A set shoe comprising a set shoe sleeve, a set shoe guide plug secured to the lower end oi said sleeve and having water outlets, the upper end of said sleeve having provisions for mounting it on the lower end of a screen, a base and a valve seat member mounted in said shoe and located above said outlets, a downwardly seating tubular valve screwed into said base with a right hand thread, means to hold said valve against unscrewing beyond a predetermineddistance, said valve having an internal left hand thread to receive a valve closing stem. I

9. A set shoe comprising a set shoe sleeve, .a se shoe guide plug secured to the lower end of said sleeve and having water outlets, the upper end of said sleeve having provisions for mounting it on the lower end of a screen, a base and a valve seat member mounted in said shoe and located above said outlets, a downwardly seating tubular valve screwed into said base with a right hand thread, means to hold said valve against unsc'rewing beyond a predetermined distance, said valve having an internal left hand thread to receive a valve closing stem, said valve seat member being carried by said base.

l0. A set shoe comprising a set shoe sleeve, a set shoe guide plug secured to the lower end of said sleeve and having water outlets, the upper end of said sleeve having provisions for mounting it on the lower end of a screen, a base and a valve seat member mounted in said shoe and located above said outlets, a downwardly seating tubular valve screwed into said base with a right hand thread, means tor hold said valve against unscrewing beyond a predetermined distance, said valve having an internal left hand thread to receive a valve closing stem, said valve seat znember including a pillar mounted on said guide plug.

11. A set shoe comprising a sleeve whose upper end is adapted for connection to a screen, a set shoe guide plug secured to the lower end of said sleeve, a cage having a base threaded into the upper end of said sleeve, and having a passage with a valve seat, said base having a threaded passage, a tubular valve open at both ends and threaded through said passage with its lower end adapted to be closed by contact with said valve seat, and means cooperating" with said valve to prevent it being unscrewed beyond a predetermined degree.

12. A set shoe comprising a sleeve whose upper end is adapted for connection to a screen, a set shoe guide plug secured to the lower end of said sleeve, a cage having a base threaded into the upper end of said sleeve, and having a passage with a valve seat, a well screen whose lower end is threaded into said sleeve to jam-lock said base therein, said'base having a threaded passage, a tubular valve open at both ends and threaded through said passage with its lower end adapted to be closed by contact with said valve seat, and means cooperating with said valve to prevent it being unscrewed beyond a. predetermined degree.

13. A set shoe comprising a sleeve whose upper end adapted for connection to a screen, a set shoe guide plug secured to the lower end of said desinee sleeve, a cage having a base threaded into the upper end of said sleeve, and having a passage with a valve seat, said base having a threaded passage, a tubular valve open at both ends and threaded through saidpassage with its lower end adapted to be closed by contact with said valve seat, and means cooperating with said valve to prevent it being unscrewed beyond a predetermined degree, said valve having a right hand threaded engagement with said base and having a left hand thread at its upper end for connection to a valve closing tool.

1li. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a well screen, a set shoe on. the lower end thereof, a packer coupled to the upper end thereof, a bottom shutoff valve in said set shoe, a combined drill-stem wash-pipe valveclosing tool and packer setting tool assembly located within said packer and screen and coupled to said valve, said assembly being adapted to be turned as a unit in one direction to close said valve and upon further rotation in the same direction to be uncoupled from said valve and then be free to be raised above the packer to perform the function of a setting tool.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a well screen, a set shoe on the lower end thereof, a packer coupled to the upper end thereof, a'bottom shutoff valve in said set shoe, a. combined drill-stem Wash-pipe valveclosing tool and packer setting tool assembly located within said packer andscreen and coupled to said'valve, said assembly vbeing adapted to be turned as a unit in one direction to close said valve and upon further rotation inthe same direction to be uncoupled from said valve and then be free to be raised above the packer to perform the fimction of a setting tool, said assembly having a duct of uniform diameter from the top to the shutoff valve at the bottom..

16. A setl shoe, a valve cage including a base and a valve seat member secured in said shoe, said valve seat member being supported below said base, said base 'having a threaded passage,

valve seat member and close said passage, said threaded passage and said valve having. corresponding right hand threads for connection, and said valve having an. internal left hand thread to receive a valve closing stem with threaded engagement. 

